Device for revolving electrical signs



April 17, 1956 ROE 2,741,861

DEVICE FOR REVOLVING ELECTRICAL SIGNS Filed July 21, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheetl Fle l F R A N K H. R OE JNVENTOR.

April 17, 1955 F. H. ROE

DEVICE FOR REVOLVING ELECTRICAL SIGNS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21,1953 FRANK H. ROE

INVENTOR.

BY r

ficrlwb April 17, 1956 F. H. ROE 2,741,861

DEVICE FOR REVOLVING ELECTRICAL SIGNS Filed July 21, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet3 FRAN K H. ROE

INVENTOR.

Uited States Patent 7 DEVICE FOR REVOLVING ELECTRICAL SIGNS Frank H.Roe, Seattle, Wash, assignor to Roe Manufacturing Company, Seattle,Wash, a corporation of Washington Application July 21, 1953, Serial No.369,460

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-33) This invention relates to illuminated signconstruction and, more particularly, to a device for revolving electricsigns. The essence of this device is the provision of a unit which canbe built into an electric sign, or other display devices, or into asupporting tower for such a sign, and which will at the same timeprovide (1) a rugged construction which will resist wind and otherforces acting upon the sign; and (2) which will readily permit theservicing of the drive motor or other power applications; and (3) whichlocates the commutator rings supplying power to the sign in such a waythat they can be readily serviced, installed, or modified, withoutdismantling the sign. This latter feature includes locating thecommutator rings outside of the bearing housing for the sign and thesupporting of the structure by openwork columns so as to afford accessto the rings.

One type of outdoor advertising or identification of a business is inthe form of a revolving sign. For certain purposes in advertising anddisplay a comparable situation exists indoors in which a large sign ordisplay rack is revolved about a vertical axis. However, the presentstructure is designed principally for outdoor work. It will beunderstood that for a large sign having a range of size of spaces, forexample between 16 and 200 square feet in area, a rugged construction isrequired merely to rotate the sign for daily use. This problem isgreatly aggravated in outdoor use when winds up to 60 miles per hour arenot uncommon. The sign must be rotated against the resistance of thewind, and furthermore when not in use, or in severe winds, must belocked against rotation. Otherwise it will be understood that inexcessive winds the sign could be rotated so rapidly as to set upvibration and stresses which the rotating mechanism and supporting basecould not withstand.

The sign driving and current supply means must be adequately protectedfrom the weather but at the same time it must be arranged for convenientaccess and maintenance. A sign of this type must be of such constructionas to permit of regular maintenance, and as it is frequently subject tochange or modification of displays, also requires different circuits tobe established in the sign. Therefore it is important to provide ease ofaccesss to the parts, including the possibility of removing partssubject to corrosion or wear, when it is desirable to Work on them in ashop. This is true of various parts and it is especially true of thecommutator rings or the like.

As in other applications, it is desirable to employ standard unitscapable of use in various types of installations in order to reduce thecost of manufacture; and this is especially true in revolving signswhere the volume, as .to the various types of installation, is small andin which the problems of installation are quite varied.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a device forrevolving electrical signs which is readily adaptable to various typesof installation.

Other objects of my invention include the provision of means forrevolving an electrical sign which is sufiicien-tly x rugged towithstand outdoor use; to devise means to hold the sign in position whenit is not to be revolved, and to include secondary safety braking meanswhich will secure the sign if the primary locking means fails; to devisea type of construction in which ready access is had to the various partswhich may require maintenance in the rigors of outdoor use, and toinclude provision wherein parts requiring considerable maintenance, orof a type which it is desirable to remove for maintenance, are of easyaccess; and to provide a construction for a sign revolving means wherebythe drive may be held stationary and the sign driven, or the drive mayrevolve, about a fixed base carrying the sign with it.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedescription and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended orare inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a specificembodiment of my device for rotating an electric sign, in thisinstallation the rotating means being fixed and the sign to be rotatedbeing shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is an elevational view in fragmentary form, and partly insection, showing an installation in which the rotating means is part ofthe sign and is located relative a fixed base;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view looking upward showing detailsof the driving and braking means;

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing the rotating means forming apart of the sign, and supported by a fixed base from below;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, in fragmentary form, showing details ofthe brake structure; and

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the shaft sleeve and theshaft used in my device.

This device is designed to work in a number of types of installation inwhich the sign may be supported from above and below. The sign may besupported by a base fixed to the ground, can be hung under anotherlarger fixed sign, may be supported on a marquee to extend upwardlytherefrom, may be supported to rotate on the top of an old si n, or mayhave actual bearing both top and bottom of the rotating sign. As theunit including the motor and commutator assembly must be protected fromthe weather, it is preferred to build the sign around the mechanismrather than to have it a part of a fixed base. However the device isdesigned to accommodate various situations, as shown in the drawings, inwhich in Figure 1, the sign S is supported by a fixed base including therotating means; and in Figure 2, the rotating mechanism is formed as apart of the sign S and hung from a fixed supporting surface; and inFigure 4, the assembly is formed as part of the sign and supported frombelow by a fixed base. It has been found thatv by providing three sizesof revolving units, as 50, 90, and pounds respectively, most types ofsigns can be accommodated which have space areas of 16-100 and 200square feet respectively. A convenient method of figuring whether alight, medium, or heavy duty unit is required, is in terms of foot-poundstress at the bearings of the revolving unit. The foot-pound stress isfigured by multiplying the square feet in the sign (height by width)times the leverage (center of sign to bearing in unit) times 30 pounds(wind pressure per square feet at 60 miles per hour).

For convenience of reference, the built-up plate construction 10 isreferred to as the base even though it may be part of the fixed orrotating assembly; the base includes a plate 12 of V2 inch materialwelded to a tubular sleeve shaft 14, and braced by gusset plates 16.Shaft 14 is rotatively mounted relative .a frame construction includingthree spaced apart plates 20, 22, 24, which may be of identicalconstruction and four spaced apart cepted in either direction.

columns formed of angle iron welded to the plates. Removably "secured toplates 20, 22 is a pair of annular rings supporting the outer race ofanti-frictional bearings 32. It will be understood that these bearingsalso act as 'one way "thrust'receivin'g means and support the weight ofthe -sign as well as acting *as journal bearings. For this reason it'ispreferred tosecure rings 34} to plates 29;. '22 by bolts so that bypositioning the rings and hearings on the opposite faces of plates 20,22, as shown by the comparison of Figures 1 and 2, the assembly isaccommodated to various types of instaliation. These parts maybepositioned in the desired relationship in the plant or may be changedinto the desired position in the field.

One of the importantfeatures of this construction is the completesupport .of the sign by the bearings 32, rings 30, plate 20, 22 andcolumns 26. It is not uncommon that these parts're'guir'e maintenance,particularly removal for repair or alteration, and all of the structurewhich is subject to frequent repair alteration and maintenance may besaid to be in cantilevered relationshipto these fixed bearings, i. e.,the driving mechanism and the commutator assembly. This has not beentrue in prior installations and this change will be understood to bequite advant'ageous.

To provide for alternate suspension of the drive unit, means areprovided so that the thrust load may be ac- The tubular shaft portion 14is preferably of a larger diameter than the continuation 40, which is ofreduced diameter, serving to form a shoulder for the tube to transferthrust to the bearing on plate 22. On the other hand the bearing onplate 219 hasits inner race diameter the same as shaft portion 14 andthrust is received by a ring sleeve 44 which includes clamping means,such as a compressing bolt, to secure it in position on shaft 14 ineither the position shown in Figure l or Figure '2. Sleeve 44 is securedin place by a bolt 45 running through it and engaging a V notch 46 inshaft 14 asin the position shown in Figure 2.

On the other free end of reduced shaft portion 40 is a commutator ringassembly. This includes a plurality of commutator rings 50, three beingshown, supportedare. inserted between the non-conductive spacer rings.52

and are soldered 'in slip rings 50. A standard 62 carries a plurality ofspring-pressed electrical brushes 64 connectting with insulated wires66. It is a common complaint with slow turning signs that the brushbecomes hung up and fails to contact the current conductor rings. Thismaybe due to gumming of lubricants, oxidation, .dust accumulation or.the like. To insure good brush-ring contact, I formthe outer surface ofthe rings slightly eccentric to their axis of rotation. Thus thespringpressed brushes 64 are constantly working in and out in theirholders in a manner to preclude their sticking out of contact with therings.

The. drive meansincludes a sheave secured on shaft portion 49, anendless flexible drive belt 72, from there on theconstruction is=eithera resilient beltor a chain and sprocket drive. The power means issupported from theside of the frame on a bracket construction 76 andincludes a motor'78. gearbox 80, and sheave 82 ondrive shaft 84. Byhaving the power means to the side, servicing and repair should be,accomplished without disturbing theirelationship of the parts withinframe members26.

When power is not applied to the motor, a self-locking type of gearassembly is used in gear box 80, such as the worm drive, which-'willsecure drive'shaft 84 against rotation and will hold the shaft 40against rotation through the drive assembly including belt 72 andsheaves 7t 82. However in the past there has been trouble with drives ofthis type where, under heavy rains, the drive means such as belt 72 maybe broken, and the sign rotated by the wind .at .such excessive speed asto cause forces and vibrations in the assembly which rip the sign loosefrom its base. For this reason auxiliary braking means has been providedserving in addition the purpose of a belt tightener for the flexibledrive 72. This brake includes a roller 81 mounted on a cam varm 83pivoted on bolt 87 to a fixed plate 85 and having a cam end 86 acting ona pin or preferably a roller 88 mounted on a sliding bolt 90. Bolt Q0 isbiased toward its inner position by spring 2 acting between a fixed pin94 on the frame 22 and pin 96 on bolt. Secured to .the inboard end ofbolt 99 is a brake shoe. 98 adapted .to seat in the belt groove ofsheave. 70. Shoe 98 is normally held out of braking positionbymeans ofroller 81 acting on belt 72 by means of. cam arm. 83 acting on bolt 90against the urging of spring 92. This assembly acts as a belt tightenerand in the event of breakageof the belt 72 the brake shoe is droppedinward by spring 92 so as to brake sheave 70 and hold the sign fromrotating. The strength of spring 92 may be varied according to the needsof installation.

When the revolving unit is formed as part of a sign, most of. the, partsrequiring maintenance are free to be worked on. because of the openworkformed by column 26 permitting removal and rearrangement of partsbecause of the cantilevered construction including the drive means andcommutator assembly and the positioning of the power means outside ofthe frame 26. Some type of protective housing either supplied by thesign or in the base is used to protect the parts from the weather, butthe'housing can be constructed so as to afford ready access to theseparts. The construction is readily adaptable to various types ofinstallations. Safety means has been provided to protect against damageto the sign in heavy winds. The various objectives of the inventionappear thus to have been met.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the abovedescription and the disclosure in the drawings that theinventioncomprehends .a novel construction of a device for revolvingelectrical signs.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A device for revolving illuminated signs, comprising:v an openwor'k,frame formed by first, second and third parallel, superimposed,vertically-separated plates arranged serially anda plurality of uprightcolumns securingtogcther said plates at their edges with the spacebetween the plates and columns open providing access for maintenance, ahollow shaft extending through said first and second plates and havingan unsupported end cantilevered between the second and third plates andterminating less than 'half the distance to said third plate, said shaftbeing located substantially on the axis of the openwork frame and eachof said first and second plates carrying an antifr-iction thrust bearingsupporting said shaft for rotation and abutment means on said shaftengaging the bearings against vertical movement through the force of.gravity, the other end of saidshaft being adapted to be connected to abody to have relative rotary movement with said frame, the cantileveredend of said shaft supporting securedthereto. andextending beyond in V acantilevered manner a plurality of commutator rings between the shaft.and the third plate, the rings be'ing insulated from said shaft, meansassociated with said frame supporting electric brush means in contactwith the commutator rings, electrical conductors extending fromsaidcommutator rings through the interior of said hollow shaft past saidfirst and second-plates to be connected to electrical means insai'clbody, electromechanical sign revolving means supported by bracket meanson said frame outside of the space between said plate and column andmeans connecting the sign revolving means to said shaft between saidsecond and third plates to rotate the same.

2. A device for revolving illuminated signs, comprising: an openworkframe formed by first, second and third parallel, superimposed,vertically-separated plates arranged serially and a plurality of uprightcolumns securing together said plates at their edges with the spacebetween the plates and columns open providing access for maintenance, ashaft extending through said first and second plates and having anunsupported end cantilevered between the second and third plates andterminating less than half the distance to said third plate, said shaftbeing located substantially on the axis of the openwork frame and saidfirst and second plates carrying antifriction thrust bearings supportingsaid shaft for rotation and abutment means on said shaft engaging thebearings against vertical movement between the shaft and frame throughthe force of gravity, the other end of said shaft being adapted to beconnected to a body to have relative rotary movement with said frame,the cantilevered end of said shaft supporting secured thereto andextending beyond in a cantilevered manner a plurality of commutatorrings between the shaft and the third plan, the rings being insulatedfrom said shaft, means associated with said frame supporting electricbrush means in contact with the commutator rings, electrical conductorsextending from said commutator rings along said shaft past said firstand second plates to be connected to electrical means in said body,electromechanical sign revolving means supported by said frame on abracket outside of the space between said plate and column and meansconnecting the sign revolving means to said shaft to rotate the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,071,608 Dear et al. Aug. 26, 1913 2,075,245 Van Schuck Mar. 30, 19372,094,317 Evers Sept. 28, 1937 2,419,437 Bricout Apr. 22, 1947 2,556,472Gray June 12, 1951

